There’s a tinsel load of Toyah on TV and radio this festive season:
Neil McCormick’s Needle Time: Vintage TV: Thursday 21st December: 4am
Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 23rd December: 7.30am
Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Saturday 23rd December 5.30pm
Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas: BBC Radio 4 Extra: Christmas Eve: 5.30am
Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments: My5: Christmas Eve: 10pm
A Very Vintage Christmas (Pt1): Vintage TV: Christmas Eve: 10pm
100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross: More 4: Christmas Day: 9.15am
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Boxing Day: 1pm
A Very Vintage Christmas (Pt2): Vintage TV: Boxing Day: 10.30pm
Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments: My5: Thursday 28th December: 2am
The 100 Greatest Musicals (Pt1): More 4: Saturday 30th December: 9.55am
The 100 Greatest Musicals (Pt2): More 4: New Year’s Eve/Hogmanay: 9.45am
Quadrophenia: Film 4: New Years Day: 1.30am
There’s another chance to catch Vintage TV’s Neil McCormick’s Needle Time with Toyah this coming week. A 60-minute special with Toyah talking about her career, music and life.
Neil McCormick’s Needle Time: Vintage TV: Thursday 21st December: 4am
Toyah Willcox. Prolific artist and actor, who enjoyed hits with ‘It’s a Mystery’, ‘Thunder in the Mountains’ and ‘I Want to be Free’, shares the story behind her remarkable career – Running Time: 60 minutes. Vintage TV is available on Sky 369, Freeview 242, Virgin 343 and Freesat 505.
Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments: My5: Christmas Eve: 10pm
Most Shocking Christmas TV Moments: My5: Thursday 28th December: 2am
A merry romp through the most inappropriate, outrageous and appallingly atrocious Christmas television turkeys of all time. These are the kind of disastrous, ill-conceived and downright cringe-inducing moments that it’s a wonder ever made it to air. Among contributors ready to dissect the disasters – many of which they were involved in themselves – are Eamon Holmes, Toyah Willcox, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Anne Diamond, Steve Punt and Mike Read.
A Very Vintage Christmas (Pt2): Vintage TV: Boxing Day: 10.30pm
Snuggling up by the fireside with Toyah Willcox and Roy Wood for some Christmas chat and festive songs are pop rock act The Feeling and Imagination’s Leee John. (Photo © Vintage TV)
A Very Vintage Christmas (Pt1): Vintage TV: Tuesday 19th December: 10.30pm
A Very Vintage Christmas (Pt1): Vintage TV: Christmas Eve: 10pm
Presenters Toyah Willcox and Wizzard’s Roy Wood are cosying up by the fireplace with two guest artists as they talk Christmas and sing favourite festive songs. (Photo © Vintage TV)
Toyah’s Christmas At The Zoo: Vintage TV: Boxing Day: 1pm
Cosy up with family and friends as Toyah Willcox brings you 30 of the finest Christmas songs and a sprinkling of festive stories, surrounded by an extraordinary variety of creatures great and small.
Airing on BBC radio for the first time since it was originally broadcast in December 2012, Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas includes an interview with Toyah during this fascinating 30 minute special, discussing ‘Smash Hits’ in the early 1980s and also the memorable and iconic ‘Brave New World’ cover issue.
Neil Tennant’s Smash Hits Christmas:
BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Sat 23rd Dec: 7.30am/5.30pm | Xmas Eve: 5.30am
Neil Tennant had a life as a journalist before he became famous as a Pet Shop Boy. In fact, it was on a Smash Hits trip to New York that he had his big breakthrough with the record producer Bobby O.
Here, 30 years after his first stint on pop’s most successful and inventive magazine, Neil recalls the golden days of Smash Hits. We hear from founder and legendary magazine maker Nick Logan, editors David Hepworth and Mark Ellen, writers Miranda Sawyer and Sylvia Patterson, and from regular Smash Hits cover girl, Toyah.
We also sample a rare recording from the 1982 Christmas Flexidisc (a message from the stars) and probably Neil Tennant’s first recording – the music for a trailer advertising Smash Hits stickers.
Producer: Susan Marling. A Just Radio Ltd. production for BBC Radio 4.
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas, Toyah’s first festive music special for Vintage TV, originally filmed in 2011, is being re-shown again this Christmas. This has become almost a festive tradition in itself, airing for its seventh consecutive Yuletide. Click on the screen caps to view more.
Toyah’s Vintage Christmas: Vintage TV: Saturday 16th December: 10am
Episode 1. Snuggle down by the fire with the family as punk princess, Toyah Willcox, introduces some of the finest Christmas videos of the 20th Century, sprinkled with a generous handful of fun festive facts.
Aaaaaaaah! is airing again, mid-December, on Film4.
Check out our huuuuge Aaaaaaaah! news archive here or by clicking on the screenshots to the left.
Aaaaaaaah!: Film 4: Friday 15th December: 2.20am
Writer-director-star Steve Oram’s experimental satire is set in a parallel present in which, despite wearing clothing and developing advanced technology, mankind never attained the power of speech. Instead, people communicate in gestures and non-verbal vocalisms, ranging from grunts to whistles and growls. And this isn’t the only similarity to our great ape cousins, as social and sexual behaviour is closer to that of gorillas or bonobos and is completely shorn of social niceties. The film opens with a grieving alpha male and his companion ritually urinating on a photo of the dominant male’s wife to mark her loss. They then move through woodland and into London’s sprawling suburbs, intent on staking out new territory for themselves…
Starring: Jade Alexander, Julian Barratt, Missa Blue, Holli Dempsey, Marcus Dempsey, Noel Fielding, Toyah Willcox.
Filmfear Interview Special: Film 4: Friday 8th December: 2.50am
Features interviews with the talent behind FilmFear 2017′s British premieres: actor-director Alice Lowe talks about Prevenge; actor-director Steve Oram talks about Aaaaaaaah! and A Dark Song; director Gareth Tunley and star Tom Meeten talk about The Ghoul; director Liam Gavin talks about A Dark Song; and director Nick Gillespie talks about Tank 432.
Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Wednesday 22nd November: 2pm
Kavanagh Q.C.: ITV Encore: Thursday 23rd November: 7.05am
A Family Affair (1995). Kavanagh finds himself caught up in a bitter family feud when he represents a frustrated father who has kidnapped his son in a desperate attempt to win custody. On the home front, Kavanagh’s daughter wants to let her boyfriend stay overnight. Directed by Renny Rye. With John Thaw, Holly Aird, Robert Ashby, Toyah Willcox and Lisa Harrow.
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Friday 24th November: 7pm
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Monday 27th November: 4pm
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Tuesday 28th November: 11am
New Romantics. Toyah Willcox and Billy Bragg are among those examining the New Romantic movement, from The Human League and Adam Ant, to David Bowie and Ultravox. (Series 1, Episode 16)
More mid-November Sky Arts airdates for the classic episode of Tales Of The Unexpected, ‘Blue Marigold’, starring Toyah in the lead role.
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Monday 13th November: 1.30pm
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Tuesday 14th November: 1.30am/9.30am
Tales Of The Unexpected: Sky Arts: Saturday 18th November: 8.30am
Blue Marigold. Series 5, Episode 1. Dropped by her agency for her diva-like behaviour, supermodel Marigold’s mental health deteriorates. Years later, she plots a comeback. Director: Giles Foster. Starring: Toyah Willcox, Ralph Bates, Sharon Duce, Helen Fraser, Billy Hamon, Edward Jewesbury.
• View a larger version of the cover by clicking above. Scans of the other pages and interview are here, here and here. (Thanks to Paul Lomas for the scans)
Maigret: ITV Encore: Thursday 16th November: 12.05pm
Maigret: ITV Encore: Friday 17th November: 5am
Maigret and the Hotel Majestic. Crime series featuring Georges Simenon’s celebrated Parisian detective. Maigret is called to the scene when a beautiful woman is found dead in the basement of the Hotel Majestic with a gun in her handbag. The Chief Inspector’s investigations initially centre around the staff at the hotel – until he discovers that the woman’s husband booked a trip to Rome that he never made. Starring: Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Hutchings, Michael Shannon, Toyah Willcox (1993).
Further airings for Jubilee on London Live.
Jubilee: London Live: Tuesday 7th November: 10pm
Jubilee: London Live: Saturday 11th November: 1.20am
Queen Elizabeth I travels through time from 1578 to 1978, where she sees what has become of her once glorious kingdom: law and order have broken down and punks roam the streets. Director: Derek Jarman. Starring: Jenny Runacre, Nell Campbell, Toyah Willcox, Hermine Demoriane, Ian Charleson, Karl Johnson. (Click here or below to browse our comprehensive Jubilee news archive) NB: London Live available on: Freeview 8, Sky 117, Virgin 159, YouView 8.
Jubilee: London Live: Tuesday 7th November: 10pm
Queen Elizabeth I travels through time from 1578 to 1978, where she sees what has become of her once glorious kingdom: law and order have broken down and punks roam the streets. Director: Derek Jarman. Starring: Jenny Runacre, Nell Campbell, Toyah Willcox, Hermine Demoriane, Ian Charleson, Karl Johnson. (Click here or below to browse our comprehensive Jubilee news archive)
NB: London Live is available on: Freeview 8, Sky 117, Virgin 159, YouView 8.
Aaaaaaaah! receives its UK television premiere this weekend on Film 4.
Check out our huuuuge Aaaaaaaah! news archive here or by clicking on the poster below. (Thanks to Darren)
Aaaaaaaah!: Film 4: Sunday 29th October: 00.30am
Writer-director-star Steve Oram’s experimental satire is set in a parallel present in which, despite wearing clothing and developing advanced technology, mankind never attained the power of speech. Instead, people communicate in gestures and non-verbal vocalisms, ranging from grunts to whistles and growls. And this isn’t the only similarity to our great ape cousins, as social and sexual behaviour is closer to that of gorillas or bonobos and is completely shorn of social niceties. The film opens with a grieving alpha male and his companion ritually urinating on a photo of the dominant male’s wife to mark her loss. They then move through woodland and into London’s sprawling suburbs, intent on staking out new territory for themselves…
Starring: Jade Alexander, Julian Barratt, Missa Blue, Holli Dempsey, Marcus Dempsey, Noel Fielding, Toyah Willcox.
Filmfear Interview Special: Film 4: Tuesday 24th October: 11.20pm
Filmfear Interview Special: Film 4: Saturday 28th October: 8.55pm
Filmfear Interview Special: Film 4: Monday 30th October: 3am
Features interviews with the talent behind FilmFear 2017’s British premieres: actor-director Alice Lowe talks about Prevenge; actor-director Steve Oram talks about Aaaaaaaah! and A Dark Song; director Gareth Tunley and star Tom Meeten talk about The Ghoul; director Liam Gavin talks about A Dark Song; and director Nick Gillespie talks about Tank 432. (Photo © Film4 FrightFest)
Trailblazers: Sky Arts: Sunday 29th October: 8pm
Punk. Narrated by Noddy Holder, this eye-opening series turns its attention to the origins of punk music. With Toyah Willcox and DJ Annie Nightingale. (Episode, Series 1, Episode 5)
Another chance to catch Toyah’s 2016 guest appearance on ITV’s The Chase, the celebrity special which also featured Germaine Greer. (Photo © ITV)
The Chase: Celebrity Special:
ITV4: Sunday 22nd October: 8pm
Bradley Walsh hosts the quiz show as four celebrities take on the Chaser. Singer Toyah Willcox, ex-footballer John Barnes, writer Germaine Greer and heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison pit their wits against one of the country’s finest quiz brains in the hope of winning thousands of pounds for their chosen charities.
Quadrophenia: Sky Select HD: Tuesday 25th July: 9.55am
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone.
